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enCalifornia publishes ‘Crisis Standard’ to help authorities design services in response to Coronavirus https://diginomica.com/california-publishes-crisis-standard-help-authorities-design-services-response-coronavirus
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">California publishes ‘Crisis Standard’ to help authorities design services in response to Coronavirus </span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Wed, 04/15/2020 - 04:12</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/california-publishes-crisis-standard-help-authorities-design-services-response-coronavirus" data-a2a-title="California publishes ‘Crisis Standard’ to help authorities design services in response to Coronavirus "><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
It’s easy to imagine how standards slip down the list of priorities during a crisis like the Coronavirus pandemic. California explains why that would be a mistake. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">Governments and public authorities around the globe have been working at breakneck speed to deliver new digital services in response to the current global health pandemic, Coronavirus. It would be easy to let standards slip when being tasked with turning around services in a matter of hours and days, rather than the weeks and months teams are typically afforded. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, California has released what it is calling ‘Crisis Standard’ on GitHub, which explains why it is still important to keep standards front of mind. We think it’s worth paying attention to and is a useful template for those teams around the world doing exemplary work in response to COVID-19. </p>
<p dir="ltr">California’s Coronavirus crisis response team notes that Californians don’t distinguish between the different tools and services provided - they’re all still State services - and as such, the quality needs to be consistent. That’s true too of the <a href="https://covid19.ca.gov/">covid19.ca.gov site</a>, or elsewhere. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I’ve written <a href="https://diginomica.com/designing-digital-services-during-coronavirus-pandemic-some-advice">some thoughts on diginomica</a> about important points to consider when designing new services during a crisis - but I thought the Californian team’s ‘Crisis Standard’ was particularly succinct and helpful. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Teams working in similar situations would do well to ask themselves the following questions, as outlined in the team’s post. The quotes included are taken directly from the post, but it’s worth reading the team’s standards in full - <a href="https://github.com/cagov/covid19/wiki/Crisis-standard">which can be found here</a>. They include: </p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Content is simple, clear and actionable </h2>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Doing the hard work to make things simple for users has never mattered more. Users need clear, actionable instructions on what to do.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We need to help users understand what they should and shouldn’t do and, most importantly, why they need to do this. In a crisis, it’s easy for users to become stressed and overwhelmed with too much information.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Response is accessible </h2>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Everyone needs covid19.ca.gov to find out what they need to know, and do what they need to do. It has to be accessible to everyone. It’s not just that it’s the law; it’s the right thing to do.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This includes people with a whole range of disabilities or difficulties, people who use lower-end devices, and people inexperienced with computers. We also translate our content to meet the needs of users whose first language isn’t English, and consider those who might struggle to read.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Provide a joined up experience for users</h2>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Users come to the covid19.ca.gov site as a jumping off point to address a wide range of needs and service they require. Users need a consistent and joined up experience as they move to other agency’s services and information.</p>
<p dir="ltr">To the end user, it should feel like one seamless experience that never leads them into dead-ends or into loops.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Information and advice must be the same across agencies, never giving the user conflicting actions.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Respond to what users need and iterate rapidly</h2>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">This crisis is ever-changing. What users need from us is constantly changing. We need to be flexible and make changes rapidly based on data, feedback from users and the state government’s response.</p>
<p dir="ltr">User testing is essential, otherwise we won’t know whether we’re making things worse for people or meeting their needs.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Scale responsibly</h2>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">We plan for increases and decreases in demand, consider the impacts of our decisions on other services, and have basic operational standards for what we expect from other services we link to.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We expect our partners to share their analytics and name a Service owner that’s accountable for the performance of the service. That service owner is the person who ensures all of the above for their service and who’s woken up in the middle of the night should the service stop working.</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image sourced via Pixabay</em>
</p>
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<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/ux-application-design" hreflang="en">UX and application design</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/digital-government/central" hreflang="en">Central</a></li>
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Wed, 15 Apr 2020 11:12:33 +0000Derek du Preez22083 at https://diginomica.comGovernment considers regulation ‘shake-up’ in the face of new transport techhttps://diginomica.com/government-considers-regulation-shake-face-new-transport-tech
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Government considers regulation ‘shake-up’ in the face of new transport tech</span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 03/16/2020 - 05:40</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/government-considers-regulation-shake-face-new-transport-tech" data-a2a-title="Government considers regulation ‘shake-up’ in the face of new transport tech"><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
A “once in a generation” review is being carried out to reform regulation in transport, with the view to better foster new technologies. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">The government has launched a review of transport laws, declaring that this is a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to ‘shake up’ regulations in the fact of rapidly changing transport technology. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The review is taking into consideration everything from zero-emission vehicles, to self-driving cars, drones, transport data and the role of government in creating a Mobility-as-a-Service platform. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The review as a whole will likely take three years, with the initial consultation and call for evidence closing on 22 May 2020. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Alongside the review, some £90 million of funding is being made available to carry out trials of new transport technologies in three ‘future transport zones’. These will provide real-world testing environment for experts, with the aim that they will work with a range of local bodies, including councils, hospitals, airports and universities. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The zones set to receive a share of the funding are in Portsmouth and Southampton, the West of England Combined Authority, and Debby and Nottingham. </p>
<p dir="ltr">One of the projects being tested will see drones carrying medical supplies from clinics on the Isle of Wight to hospitals on the mainland. Once trials are complete, the drones could be used to transport chemotherapy kits.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The government will also consult on the use of e-scooters - which have grown in popularity in other countries, including the US - including the role local authorities should play in managing their impact. </p>
<p>Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">We are on the cusp of a transport revolution. Emerging technologies are ripping up the rulebook and changing the way people and goods move forever.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Our groundbreaking future of transport programme marks the biggest review of transport laws in a generation and will pave the way for exciting new transport technology to be tested, cementing the UK’s position as a world-leading innovator.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The This review will ensure we understand the potential impacts of a wide range of new transport modes such as e-scooters, helping to properly inform any decisions on legalisation. Funding these new zones across the country will also help us safely test innovative ways to get around, creating a greener future transport system for us all.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">The review</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The government has said that the review is being undertaken to address areas of regulation that are outdated, a barrier to innovation, or not designed with new technologies and business models in mind. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It has laid out five core principles that will underpin the ‘values’ of the review. These include: </p>
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Regulation for innovation and safety</strong> - whilst the government wants regulation to unlock innovation, rather than hamper it, it also wants to manage any potential negative or unintended consequences</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Regulation built on evidence</strong> - the framework will support innovation, but only where there is evidence to show it can offer net benefits to society, the environment and the economy</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Regulation for agility</strong> - any future regulatory framework should be able to adapt more quickly to the technological pace of change</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Regulation for multi-modality</strong> - regulation should make it easier to develop multi-modal transport systems rather than reinforce modal silos</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Regulation with local consent and leadership</strong> - what is suitable for one region, city or environment will not necessarily be suitable for another. Where local leaders are keen to lead the way in ‘transport innovation’, the regulatory system should support them to do so. </p>
</li>
</ol>
<p dir="ltr">The document published today notes that the regulatory framework for the transport industry has been developed gradually over centuries, with a lot of primary regulatory regulation dating back to the 1800s. We have seen, for example, how the regulatory environment has failed to keep up with the changes in the taxi industry, with the likes of Uber growing increasingly popular. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The government has identified that pacing (the speed of innovation vs regulatory change) and convergence (the blurring of lines between sectors that cut across regulatory boundaries) are two of the biggest challenges facing the review and the future regulatory environment. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Rachel Maclean, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, commented on the review and said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Technology and innovation are already blurring the lines between different transport modes, and the increasing automation of transport will drive this further. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Our regulatory frameworks for licensing, ticketing, payment and consumer protection need to be more responsive to this, and to single-priced journeys on multiple types of transport becoming the norm. Collaboration between different transport regulators will be critical.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And just as in other areas where technology companies have grown powerful, we want to ensure that they understand their responsibility to meet democratic norms and rules.</p>
<p dir="ltr">To make the UK a world leader in the movement of people, goods and services we need a world-leading regulatory framework for transport. Please take this opportunity to share your views and join with us in making regulation for transport innovation a reality.</p>
</blockquote>
</div>
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<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/digital-government/central" hreflang="en">Central</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
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Mon, 16 Mar 2020 12:40:07 +0000Derek du Preez21964 at https://diginomica.comInternational Trade Minister Liz Truss pitches services trade reform to WTO https://diginomica.com/international-trade-minister-liz-truss-pitches-services-trade-reform-wto
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">International Trade Minister Liz Truss pitches services trade reform to WTO </span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Wed, 03/04/2020 - 03:25</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/international-trade-minister-liz-truss-pitches-services-trade-reform-wto" data-a2a-title="International Trade Minister Liz Truss pitches services trade reform to WTO "><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
The UK’s speech to the WTO this week may provide some indication of the government’s Brexit trade strategy with the EU. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">For the first time since exiting the EU at the end of January the UK took an independent seat at the World Trade Organization, where Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss delivered a pitch to the WTO General Council on reforming services trade. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The WTO could play a significant role in the UK’s future trading position with the EU, depending on the outcome of the <a href="https://diginomica.com/uk-will-have-independent-policy-data-protection-will-seek-adequacy-decision-eu">Brexit trade talks</a> that are due to conclude at the end of this year. </p>
<p dir="ltr">If UK and EU negotiators fail to secure a free trade agreement in time, then the two trading blocs will have to revert to WTO rules (no deal). </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, it’s also worth noting that the Prime Minister has indicated that the UK will be <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjilvnQ24DoAhXSkFwKHT2uC3UQFjAAegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fbusiness-45633592&usg=AOvVaw0nRKELvzWsCcOt9hfeaJWC">seeking a ‘Canada-style’ trade deal</a> with the EU, which prioritises reducing friction on goods over services. Under the EU’s deal with Canada, there are still significant restrictions on services. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As a services focused economy, the UK may therefore be pushing reform on WTO services rules as a solution to get the best of both worlds. A goods-focused trade deal with the EU, falling back on reformed WTO services rules elsewhere. Although the extent to which the possible reforms will replicate the trading relationship the UK had as an EU member remains to be seen. </p>
<p dir="ltr">And there are many assumptions being made on our part here, given the early stage of negotiations. </p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What did Truss say? </h2>
<p dir="ltr">Truss used her speech to declare that the UK is an “open, liberal and outward looking nation”. She said that world trading volumes are lagging behind global growth and that the rate of decline in global poverty is also beginning to slow. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The Secretary of State said that the UK wants to turn the rise in protectionist measures being seen around the world and that the WTO is central to its future vision as a free trading nation. </p>
<p>Truss said:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">The more we allow people to shape their own lives, remove barriers to enterprise within and between nations, and allow human ingenuity to flourish, the more rewards we will all reap.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The greatest economic advances from steam engine to the internet, have resulted from increasing international trade and connectedness, the ideas chain reaction.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So we will work with all nations that share this multilateral vision, to lead the defence of free, fair, rules-based international trade, pioneering a route to prosperity that lies through working together, not protectionism.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">She added that the UK wants to make sure the rule-based system is based on open, market orientated policies and is “transparent and fair”. The UK, Truss said, will in particular take aim at “trade tensions” such as industrial subsidies, state-owned enterprises and forced technology transfer. </p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaders in services and tech</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The UK will seek to advance trade for the “modern era”, Truss said during her speech, noting that the world has “experienced a revolution in technology and automation”. She argued that while technology services have changed our world and account for close to half the value of international goods and services, the barrier to trade in services are “around three times higher than for goods”. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Truss said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">As a services orientated economy, a world leader in sectors ranging from tech to finance, and the world’s second largest services exporter, this is a huge opportunity.</p>
<p>The UK will push to ease restrictions on cross-border data flows…preventing unnecessary data localisation requirements…and ensure customs duties do not apply to electronic transactions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We will do this through multilateral or plurilateral groups at the WTO, a coalition of the willing, such as the JSI on e-commerce and through wider reform to trade in services, the UK seeks to be a future leader in these areas.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">She concluded by saying that the UK will be a trading nation that pushes for liberalisation in trade in services and data, with the aim of turning around protectionist trends and delivering benefits of the “global digital revolution for all members”.</p>
</div>
<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image sourced via GOV.UK </em>
</p>
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<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/digital-government/central" hreflang="en">Central</a></li>
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Wed, 04 Mar 2020 11:25:49 +0000Derek du Preez21907 at https://diginomica.comUK will ‘prioritise digital’ in trade talks with US https://diginomica.com/uk-will-prioritise-digital-trade-talks-us
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">UK will ‘prioritise digital’ in trade talks with US </span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 03/02/2020 - 07:43</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/uk-will-prioritise-digital-trade-talks-us" data-a2a-title="UK will ‘prioritise digital’ in trade talks with US "><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
The UK has published its negotiating objectives for a free trade agreement with the US. But reaching a trade agreement will be a balancing act. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">The British government has this week set out it’s negotiating objectives as it attempts to secure a comprehensive free trade agreement with the USA, placing digital trade as a top priority. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, the post-Brexit trade agreement is likely to be a fine balancing act given that the UK is also under pressure to secure a post-Brexit trade agreement with the EU before the end of the transition period. The EU-UK Brexit negotiations also kick off today. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The UK may find itself stuck between a rock and a hard place as it contends with differing priorities between the two trading giants, one of which favours strict personal data regulations (the EU), the other likely wanting more flexibility.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Throw into the mix that US technology giants will likely be placing pressure on the UK to reduce the rhetoric around a digital services tax - things could well get very complicated, very quickly. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Whilst there are inevitably huge opportunities on securing a free trade agreement with both the US and the EU, the realities of being a smaller independent trading nation are likely to become apparent, with the UK possibly having to decide which will benefit it more greatly over the coming decades. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The one saving grace is that the UK-US trade talks aren’t time pressured (unlike the EU negotiations, which have to reach a conclusion one way or another by the end of the year), and a lot could change over their lifetime - including potentially a new incoming President! </p>
<p dir="ltr">The government has said that the free trade agreement with the US will deliver for the whole of the UK, with Scotland, the North East and the Midlands forecast to benefit most from removing barriers to trade with the US. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Government published analysis states that the UK economy will benefit from a £3.4 billion boost, as the trade deal aims to increase transatlantic trade flows by £15.3 billion. </p>
<p dir="ltr">International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Striking ambitious free trade agreements with our partners around the world is one of the key opportunities of Britain becoming an independent trading nation once again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This deal with our biggest single trading partner will cut red tape for our small businesses, cut tariffs for our great products from dairy to cars and increase growth in all four nations.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Detail on digital</h2>
<p dir="ltr">As noted above, the government has said it will be giving priority to arriving at “cutting edge digital trade provisions, that could maximise opportunities across the UK economy”. The objective, the government’s document states, is to reduce the costs of international trade, facilitate the coordination of global value chains and help connect businesses and consumers, including mechanisms to support digital business models and contracts. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The document adds that the government has listened to responses from stakeholders on the desire for robust online protections for consumers and the need for provisions to “support innovation and cyber cooperation”. </p>
<p>On some of the challenges noted above - particularly a digital services tax and data regulations - it reads:</p>
<blockquote><p>We also note comments regarding digital taxation and will consider this as part of our policy development. We have listened to the responses from stakeholders on the desire for robust protections for consumers online and agree that protecting an open internet is an important principle.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Government notes stakeholders’ responses regarding data protection and privacy standards in the UK and will ensure that robust protections for personal data are maintained. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The UK will allow for the continued free flow of data to the EU on a transitional basis, subject to our own independent UK ‘adequacy’ arrangements being established, which will govern the transfer of personal data from the UK.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">It was recently <a href="https://diginomica.com/uk-will-have-independent-policy-data-protection-will-seek-adequacy-decision-eu">reported by diginomica/government</a> that the government has said that it will be seeking an adequacy decision from the EU to allow personal data to continue to flow freely between the EU and the UK. However, it has also said that it will have an independent data protection policy in the future - leaving it open to divergence from the EU’s GDPR. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The government estimates that more than 72% of UK services exports to the US (approximately £46 billion) were delivered remotely in 2018, the majority of which were due to cross-border data flows. </p>
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<em>Image credit - Image sourced via Twitter. </em>
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Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:43:24 +0000Derek du Preez21898 at https://diginomica.comUK will have an “independent policy on data protection”, but will seek adequacy decision from EU https://diginomica.com/uk-will-have-independent-policy-data-protection-will-seek-adequacy-decision-eu
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">UK will have an “independent policy on data protection”, but will seek adequacy decision from EU </span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 02/28/2020 - 05:13</span>
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<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
This week the government set out its negotiating position for the forthcoming Brexit trade talks. The impression is that the UK will be going its own way, even on data protection. <br />
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<p dir="ltr">The British government this week outlined its negotiating position to secure a free trade agreement with the EU during the Brexit transition period, which is set to conclude at the end of this year. However, in a speech to MPs, Michael Gove has said that the government is prepared to walk away from trade talks in June unless there is a broad outline of a deal. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This would mean the UK would fall back on trading with the EU on WTO terms, which would introduce a great deal of friction when compared with a comprehensive free trade agreement. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, whilst the UK is seeking an FTA that allows for divergence from EU rules, the EU has said that it would expect the UK to “uphold common high standards, and corresponding high standards over time with Union standards as a reference point”. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Simply put, the next few months are going to be incredibly trying for the two negotiating teams, which appear to be starting from two completely different positions. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The UK this week published its approach to negotiations in the form of a document called ‘<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/868874/The_Future_Relationship_with_the_EU.pdf">The Future Relationship with the EU</a>’. The document covers many aspects of what it would expect a free trade agreement to include and is worth looking over in full. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, one point of particular interest is regarding the UK’s data protection policy. <a href="https://diginomica.com/dcmss-post-brexit-data-protection-intentions-would-leave-einstein-confused">As Chris Middleton wrote</a> for diginomica/government earlier this week, divergence on data policy - or the failure to secure a free trade agreement that includes data - could have serious implications. He notes: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">But there is another challenge in all the political grandstanding over trade and immigration, one that can be expressed in a single word: data. No deal on trade would also mean no deal on data transfer, hosting, storage, and processing. And regulatory divergence could mean breaking EU rules on data governance, privacy, and protection, which would be the same as no deal. With an estimated 80 percent of UK organisations having data in the EU at least some of the time, that would be a massive problem.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) put it at a Westminster conference on GDPR last year, crashing out of the EU with no deal or no regulatory equivalence could mean enterprises, charities, and public sector organisations sending their data to the EU but not getting it back. Because in 2020, trade isn’t only about fish and computer chips, it’s also about bits and bytes. And it isn’t just about money, but also a free exchange of information, ideas, and research.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">As Chris notes in his piece, DCMS’s response to defining its position on a post-Brexit data protection policy was less that than satisfactory, with the department’s deputy director of domestic data protection policy preferring instead to ramble on about physics. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, the government’s document this week provides a bit more clarity. What’s interesting is that <a href="https://diginomica.com/business-government-cant-wait-4-years-brexit-data-deal">under Theresa May’s tenure</a> as Prime Minister, the government was clear that it would align with the EU’s GDPR - allowing for a smooth data transition in a post-Brexit world. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Boris Johnson’s government, however, appears to be favouring control to set its own agenda, instead simply seeking an adequacy decision from the EU. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Data adequacy is granted when the European Commission feels that a territory that is not part of the EU has data protection laws and practices that are aligned to the EU’s high standards. Currently ten countries have been granted the status, including Israel and New Zealand. The USA and Canada have only been deemed to be partially adequate, and the data sharing with the USA is governed by the 2016 Privacy Shield agreement.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The UK will not commit to regulatory alignment </h2>
<p dir="ltr">The UK has said that it intends to set its own data agenda. The document released this week states: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">The UK will have an independent policy on data protection at the end of the transition period and will remain committed to high data protection standards.</p>
<p dir="ltr">To maintain the continued free flow of personal data from the EU to the UK, the UK will seek ‘adequacy decisions’ from the EU under both the General Data Protection Regulation and the Law Enforcement Directive before the end of the transition period. These are separate from the wider future relationship and do not form part of trade agreements. This will allow the continued free flow of personal data from the EEA States to the UK, including for law enforcement purposes. The European Commission has recognised a number of third countries globally as providing adequate levels of data protection.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On a transitional basis, the UK has allowed for the continued free flow of personal data from the UK to the EU. The UK will conduct assessments of the EEA States and other countries under an independent international transfer regime.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">In addition the UK has said that it will seek appropriate arrangements to allow continued cooperation between the UK Information Commissioner’s Office and EU Member State data protection authorities. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The UK may succeed in its approach, as not granting an adequacy decision would also impact EU member states that trade with the UK. That being said, the EU is concerned about the UK gaining a competitive advantage through diverging regulation, so it’s far from a done deal. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Michael Gove made it clear this week that sovereignty is the primary aim of the UK’s negotiating position. He said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">To be clear: we will not be seeking to dynamically align with EU rules on EU terms governed by EU laws and EU institutions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The British people voted to take back control, to bring power home, to have the rules governing this country made by those who are directly accountable to the people of this country. And that is what we are delivering.</p>
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<em>Image credit - Image sourced via Pixabay</em>
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<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/data-privacy" hreflang="en">Data privacy</a></li>
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Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:13:28 +0000Derek du Preez21889 at https://diginomica.comDCMS’s post-Brexit data protection intentions would leave Einstein confusedhttps://diginomica.com/dcmss-post-brexit-data-protection-intentions-would-leave-einstein-confused
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">DCMS’s post-Brexit data protection intentions would leave Einstein confused</span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/cmiddleton" class="username">Chris Middleton</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 02/27/2020 - 03:09</span>
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<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
When asked about Britain’s intentions for data protection policy in a post-Brexit world, a DCMS data chief preferred to ponder on physics...<br />
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<p dir="ltr">As the UK government today outlines its vision of what a future trade deal with the EU looks like, what attention will data adequacy get amid the prospect of fishing wars and ‘level playing fields’?</p>
<p dir="ltr">When Sajid Javid – then Chancellor of the Exchequer – told the Financial Times last month that the UK would be diverging from European rules and regulations, he was playing to the gallery. Javid has since consigned himself to the back benches of history, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have been echoing his line about Britain now being a “rule maker, not a rule taker”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It’s a great soundbite, but the UK was a rule maker and modifier throughout its 47-year membership of the EU. Post Brexit, it may find itself becoming rather more of a taker than it would like, once Brussels begins erasing the half century of concessions it made to British Parliamentary sovereignty. That process is just beginning.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But there is another challenge in all the political grandstanding over trade and immigration, one that can be expressed in a single word: data. No deal on trade would also mean no deal on data transfer, hosting, storage, and processing. And regulatory divergence could mean breaking EU rules on data governance, privacy, and protection, which would be the same as no deal. With an estimated 80 percent of UK organisations having data in the EU at least some of the time, that would be a massive problem.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) put it at a Westminster conference on GDPR last year, crashing out of the EU with no deal or no regulatory equivalence could mean enterprises, charities, and public sector organisations sending their data to the EU but not getting it back. Because in 2020, trade isn’t only about fish and computer chips, it’s also about bits and bytes. And it isn’t just about money, but also a free exchange of information, ideas, and research.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It became apparent that some of the speakers at that 2019 eForum event (banks, charities, government departments, and the NHS among them) had no idea where in the world their data actually was, owing to the ever-shifting mix of contracts, services, mirror sites, departmental silos, and responsible owners that typifies any large organisation – such as the NHS, not to mention their infrastructure, platform, and Software as a Service (SaaS) suppliers. I know, because I asked them</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">‘Nothing is still’</h2>
<p dir="ltr">So what does government have to say about all this? At a Westminster eForum conference on data protection this week, it fell to the young, quiet, and studious figure of Harry Lee, Deputy Director of Domestic Data Protection Policy at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to tell his assembled colleagues from DCMS, BEIS, DIT, HMRC, DfE, DfT, DWP, the Home Office, the Cabinet Office, and others, what the hell is going on.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At this point all Lee needed to do was provide focus, clarity, and a simple message of reassurance about the future, so delegates could head back to their desks whistling Jerusalem. But instead, he launched into an eloquent soliloquy about theoretical physics – evidence of his own interests, perhaps, or conceivably something cut and pasted from Dominic Cummings’ blog.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lee said:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Theoretical physics from Einstein onwards has taught us many things. [...] One is that nothing is still, or more precisely, nothing is still unless everything is at rest. Motion is relative. So if anything is moving, then anything fixed we must define as an origin.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">This went on for several minutes, replete with vague allusions to the US, navel-gazing, and observing change in a fast-moving world. The problem, of course, is that in quantum physics something can be on and off at the same time, or in two places at once, or both a particle and a wave. While that may be an accurate (if tragic) description of the UK’s on/off future at this point in history, that level of ambiguity on policy matters helps no one – least of all businesses.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Circling the topic without engaging with specifics (a pay rise and promotion must be in the bag), Lee added:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">For anyone surveying data policy today, one thing is obviously true: nothing is still. Most things are moving and they’re often moving very quickly. We need to understand what is driving a lot of activity and change, because these are the forces as policymakers in the UK that we need to respond to in the coming years, and technological change is one very important driving force.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Yes, Mr Lee, we know that. But delegates came to the eForum for answers, not to have the questions explained to them alongside Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. Wearing an education conspicuously on your sleeve while saying nothing of substance or practical benefit typifies the government of Johnson, Cummings, Rees Mogg, et al. There’s even a word for it: obfuscation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But there were glimpses of policy objectives through the endless quantum foam:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">The gap between theory and day-to-day best practice cannot be allowed to grow too large. If understanding and complying with data protection is too difficult and burdensome for the average business, our framework cannot be effective in practice. We will not realise its benefits either as individuals or for our economy.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">This may have been a coded message that the government aims to slash some of that supposed red tape. But while simplifying the Data Protection Act 2018 for SMEs might be an option, for example, trying to amend EU regulations themselves is impossible from the outside. Indeed, Europe may decide to impose the strictest interpretations of GDPR on the UK in a political battle of wills.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At no point did Lee’s speech address the questions that everyone wanted answered, namely: will the UK diverge from GDPR, will there be a data adequacy agreement, and does Whitehall even want one? At least, until co-chair Charles Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon (and partner at law firm Michelmores), pulled rank in the most British way possible and demanded clarity.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With a social pecking order handed down from the Fifteenth Century, in this case, the hapless Lee felt he had little choice but to respond when ordered to do so by an aristocrat. He said:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">I think we have a very clear commitment as a country to seek an adequacy deal with the EU as a priority before the end of the transition period, so it is in place by next year. We think that is practical. And we're optimistic.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">My take</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Finally! Whatever else may be changing in the UK, it still takes an Earl to get a simple answer to a question, it seems; everyone else has to make do with the patronising erudition of policy wonks or Cummings’ passive aggressive posturing. Anything but fill the vacuum of English politics with substance or verifiable facts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So data adequacy is the ambition, but the politics of getting to that point by 31 December are an entirely different matter. They will largely be driven from the front by a Downing Street that has scant interest in details, zero practical understanding of technology, and which sees the big picture purely in terms of personalities and populism.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So will there be data adequacy come 1 January 2021? We can only hope so – and try, collectively, to force it to happen. But don’t hold your breath; not while a EU trade agreement is nowhere near the table.</p>
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<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay </em>
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Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:09:40 +0000Chris Middleton21880 at https://diginomica.comThe impact of GDPR - 160,000 breach notifications in Europe and €114m in fineshttps://diginomica.com/impact-gdpr-160000-breach-notifications-europe-and-eu114m-fines
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The impact of GDPR - 160,000 breach notifications in Europe and €114m in fines</span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 01/21/2020 - 04:04</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/impact-gdpr-160000-breach-notifications-europe-and-eu114m-fines" data-a2a-title="The impact of GDPR - 160,000 breach notifications in Europe and €114m in fines"><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
GDPR came into force across the EU at the end of May 2018, introducing a new age of data protection requirements on business. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">It has been close to two years since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force across the EU, updating ageing data protection laws across the region. In the lead up to GDPR being introduced, there was plenty of hysteria and hyperbole across the business world and media - with claims that GDPR would be too costly to introduce and overbearing for business. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The reality has been more measured and data protection regulators have taken a sensible approach to balancing guidance, support and taking action. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, it is only now that a decent amount of time has passed, can we begin to see how GDPR is being used across Europe and understand variances between individual countries. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Thanks to a new report from law firm <a href="https://www.dlapiper.com/en/global/news/2020/01/114-million-in-fines-have-been-imposed-by-european-authorities-under-gdpr/">DLA Piper</a> we now know that European data protection regulators have imposed €114 million in fines under GDPR. However, this does not include €329 million in fines that are being treated by the ICO in the UK on companies that have faced high profile data breaches, including <a href="https://diginomica.com/marriott-faces-ps99-million-gdpr-fine-ico-reports-public-awareness-information-rights-soaring">Marriott</a> and <a href="https://diginomica.com/gdpr-penalties-take-british-airways-faces-ps18339-million-fine">British Airways</a>. </p>
<p dir="ltr">France has imposed the highest fines to date (€51 million), followed by Germany (€24 million), and Austria (€18 million). </p>
<p dir="ltr">Over 160,000 data breach notifications have been reported across the 28 European Union Member States, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, since GDPR came into force on 25th May 2019. </p>
<p>The Netherlands, Germany and the UK topped the number table for the number of data breaches notified to regulators with 40,647, 37,636 and 22,181 notifications respectively. </p>
<p>The daily rate of breach notifications has also increased by 12.6% from 247 notifications per day for the first eight months of GDPR (up until 27 January 2019), to 278 breach notifications per day for the current year. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Commenting on the report, Ross McKean, a partner at DLA Piper specialising in cyber and data protection, noted that whilst the data is useful, it is likely still early days when considering the wider impact. He said:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">GDPR has driven the issue of data breach well and truly into the open. The rate of breach notification has increased by over 12% compared to last year’s report and regulators have been busy road-testing their new powers to sanction and fine organisations. The total amount of fines of €114 million imposed to date is relatively low compared to the potential maximum fines that can be imposed under GDPR, indicating that we are still in the early days of enforcement. We expect to see momentum build with more multi-million Euro fines being imposed over the coming year as regulators ramp up their enforcement activity.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Other useful stats</h2>
<p dir="ltr">When looking at data breach notifications when weighted for the population size of each county, the Netherlands sits at the top of the ranking table with the most breaches per 100,000 capita (147.2). This is followed by Ireland (132.52) and Denmark (115.43). The UK sits at around mid-table with 17.79 data breach notifications per 100,000. </p>
<p dir="ltr">At the bottom of the table sits Italy (2.05), Romania (1.) and Greece (1.5) data breach notifications per 100,000. DLA Piper notes that Italy, a country with a population of over 62 million people, only recorded 1886 data breach notifications, “illustrating the cultural difference in approach to breach notification”. </p>
<p dir="ltr">DLA Piper notes that the current state of play may not be the status quo for future years. The report states:</p>
<blockquote><p>It would be unwise to assume that low and infrequent fines will be the norm going forward. Supervisory authorities across Europe have been staffing up their enforcement teams and getting to grips with the new regime. It takes time to build a robust case to justify higher fines. We expect to see more multi million Euro fines in the coming year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Fines certainly aren’t the only potential exposure for organisations which fall short of GDPR’s exacting requirements. Supervisory authorities enjoy a wide range of powers to impose other sanctions including in some countries the ability to publicly name and shame the wrongdoer.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There is also an increased risk of “follow-on” compensation claims, including group litigation which follow a regulatory finding of liability. Litigation funders have billions of Euros available to fund claims and – where local civil procedure rules permit – are becoming increasingly active pursuing group litigation claims for large groups of affected individuals on the basis of alleged breaches of GDPR and data protection laws. Recent UK group litigation claims based on data protection law infringements would be very familiar to US class action lawyers.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It’s worth noting that whilst the UK is set to leave the EU at the end of January, the <a href="https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-brexit/information-rights-and-brexit-frequently-asked-questions/">ICO notes</a> that the government intends to incorporate GDPR into UK data protection law, which means that organisations will still need to follow the legislation and be compliant. be Take a look at this diginomica/government piece on a clear rundown of the <a href="https://diginomica.com/gdpr-compliance-here-are-the-14-things-you-actually-need-to-do">14 things you actually need to do</a> to become GDPR compliant. </p>
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<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image sourced via Pixabay</em>
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<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/data-privacy" hreflang="en">Data privacy</a></li>
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Tue, 21 Jan 2020 12:04:54 +0000Derek du Preez21719 at https://diginomica.comGovernment should force social media companies to hand over data for researchhttps://diginomica.com/government-should-force-social-media-companies-hand-over-data-research
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Government should force social media companies to hand over data for research</span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Fri, 01/17/2020 - 03:39</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/government-should-force-social-media-companies-hand-over-data-research" data-a2a-title="Government should force social media companies to hand over data for research"><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
A new report released by the Royal College of Psychiatrists also argues that a government tax on social media companies needs to go further. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">Social media companies should be forced to hand over their data to universities for independent research into the risks and benefits of social media use, argues <a href="https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/improving-care/better-mh-policy/college-reports/college-report-cr225.pdf">a new report published</a> by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP). </p>
<p dir="ltr">The RCP recommends that the government should use the opportunity of its recently <a href="https://diginomica.com/uks-secretary-of-state-for-digital-we-will-legislate-to-keep-the-internet-safe">announced independent regulator for online safety</a> to compel social media companies to hand over anonymised data to better understand the benefits and harms on children and young people. </p>
<p>In addition, the report released today also argues that the government’s planned <a href="https://diginomica.com/chancellor-urged-take-global-lead-digital-services-tax-g20-finance-ministers-meet">‘Turnover Tax’</a> on technology firms should go further and be applied to the international turnover of social media companies. This could be used to fund research and training for clinicians, teachers and others working with children and young people. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The government recently released its Online Harms White Paper, which is under consultation. The White Paper set out plans for a new independent regulator to be introduced to ensure online companies protect their users and and face tough penalties if they do not comply. </p>
<p dir="ltr">It proposed a mandatory ‘duty of care’ for companies and the regulator will have enforcement tools to not only issue fines, but also block access to sites and potentially impose liability on individual members of senior management. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, the RCP wants to see the government go further, forcing the handover of anonymised data, stating that an “understanding of the content with which children and young people are engaging is essential”. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The RCP states that the challenges posed by social media to the mental health of children and young people has “exploded in recent times”, citing the tragic suicide of teenager Molly Russel, who died after viewing harmful content online. Her father, Ian, backs the College’s report. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Ian Russell, who also authored the report’s foreword, said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Two years ago Molly’s suicide smashed like a wrecking ball into my family’s life. I am in no doubt that the graphic self-harm content and suicide encouraging memes on Molly’s social media feeds helped kill her.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Without research using data from social media companies we will never know how content can lead our children and young people to self-harm or, in the most tragic cases, take their own lives. The government must enact these calls from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Key recommendations for government</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The RCP outlines a number of recommendations for the government to consider when thinking about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health and establishing its new online harms regulator. These include: </p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ensuring the regulator urgently reviews and establishes a protocol for the sharing of data from social media companies with universities for research into benefits and harms on children and young people.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">An urgent review of the ethical framework for using digital data. The RCP states that the same standards need to apply as in other areas of research.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Government funding for follow up of NHS Digital prevalence study to examine the impact of social media on vulnerable children and young people over time</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">To instruct the regulator to establish a levy on tech companies proportionate to their worldwide turnover. This would be used to fund independent research and training packages for clinicians, teachers and others working with children and young people. As with the gambling industry and social responsibility measures, the gaming and social media industry should be required to increase social responsibility measures similarly, such as emulate the gambling industry’s duty of care practices (e.g. personalised behavioural feedback, stop messages) in gaming/social media platforms.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Enabling the regulator to undertake a joint review with the UK Gambling Commission to review regulation regarding loot boxes in line with other countries which have recognized loot boxes as a form of gambling.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Undertaking a consultation in 2020 on a yellow card warning system similar to that used for medicines, in order for professionals and potentially parents/carers/young people to report harms of social media and gaming companies.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prioritising the strictest enforcement of Data Protection law and in particular UK DPA 2018 “Age appropriate design” to services targeting and / or popular with children, including that services should default to assuming users need child protection until explicit action is taken to opt out.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr">Dr Bernadka Dubicka, chair of the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and co-author of the report, said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">As a psychiatrist working on the frontline, I am seeing more and more children self-harming and attempting suicide as a result of their social media use and online discussions. </p>
<p dir="ltr">We will never understand the risks and benefits of social media use unless the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram share their data with researchers. Their research will help shine a light on how young people are interacting with social media, not just how much time they spend online.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Self-regulation is not working. It is time for government to step-up and take decisive action to hold social media companies to account for escalating harmful content to vulnerable children and young people.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Recommendations for technology companies</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In addition to the recommendations made to government, the College also made some recommendations to technology companies. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Social media platforms should flag up engagement with risky content and operate and offer a free direct hotline for at-risk or vulnerable individuals.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Social media companies should provide user configurable controls (not in the cloud) that can block incoming content of the young person’s choosing (by default ‘full safety measures on’), and provide feedback on content they are planning to send.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Social media companies should promote and contribute to mental health charities in home countries to support any vulnerable individuals</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Gaming companies and social media platforms should regularly fund research related to their products, to be conducted by independent external bodies and provide on a regular basis user data for research purposes to academic institutions.</p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Funding of media literacy awareness campaigns.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image sourced via Pixabay</em>
</p>
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<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/digital-government/central" hreflang="en">Central</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/social" hreflang="en">Social</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
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Fri, 17 Jan 2020 11:39:08 +0000Derek du Preez21708 at https://diginomica.comSecretary of State for Digital outlines government’s five principles to make ‘tech work for every citizen’https://diginomica.com/secretary-state-digital-outlines-governments-five-principles-make-tech-work-every-citizen
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Secretary of State for Digital outlines government’s five principles to make ‘tech work for every citizen’</span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Wed, 01/15/2020 - 06:10</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/secretary-state-digital-outlines-governments-five-principles-make-tech-work-every-citizen" data-a2a-title="Secretary of State for Digital outlines government’s five principles to make ‘tech work for every citizen’"><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
Baroness Morgan delivers a speech this week that argues for pro-innovation regulation, whilst ensuring benefits are reaped widely and fairly. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">The Secretary of State for Digical, Culture Media and Sport, Baroness Morgan, this week laid out the government’s vision for how it plans to ensure technology works for everyone, insisting that the benefits must be felt “widely and fairly”. </p>
<p dir="ltr">She presented the government’s five “deeply connected” principles for making this happen and said that the next five years will be “crucial” for the country. </p>
<p dir="ltr">With the Conservative Party winning a large majority in the general election before Christmas, the government now finds itself in a position to push forward with a more radical agenda than it has been able to in recent years. In addition to this, the Prime Minister has said he is looking to ‘level up’ the country post-Brexit and ensure that any future economic gains (if there are any) will be felt more equally across the UK. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Baroness Morgan said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">DCMS officially became the department for digital in 2017, and even in that short period we have seen huge growth in our digital economy.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Digital is touching more parts of our lives, providing new opportunities and new challenges to grapple with too.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And in this period we have also seen a tech sector that has gone from strength to strength.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">She added that last year venture capital investment in UK tech reached a record high of £10.1 billion, up £3 billion from 2018, and that the UK is producing twice as many billion dollar value digital companies as Germany. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Baroness Morgan said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">The power of digital is transforming our economy, our public services, how we learn and connect, the entertainment we enjoy, and the communities we live in - and this pace of change will only intensify in the future.</p>
<p>And we are starting from a very strong foundation - thanks to our country’s world-beating innovators and entrepreneurs and thanks to the investment this Government has made.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But as we look to the future, the question is how do we ensure a thriving economy, driven by world-leading technology, that works to the benefit of all citizens?</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Principle 1 - Pro-technology government</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The Secretary of State said that the government will be “unashamedly pro-technology” in all that it does, as it believes that digital innovation is a major driver of opportunity, productivity and creativity. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Whilst highlighting again the UK’s strong tech job growth and investment, Baroness Morgan added that the government wants to think about how it can “sustain, intensify and spread” this growth. </p>
<p dir="ltr">She also pointed to the potential of digital to transform public services and the relationship between government and citizens (something that’s been a focus for well over a decade).</p>
<p dir="ltr">Giving a nod to Brexit, Baroness Morgan added:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">As we expand our trading relations around the globe, I can assure you that we are passionate about the opportunities provided by digital tech.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And that they will be at the heart of the government’s trade policy in the years ahead.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Principle 2 - Sharing the benefits of technology widely and fairly</h2>
<p dir="ltr">As noted above, the Conservatives have placed a big emphasis on distributing economic opportunity and growth outside of London and ‘transforming communities’ across the UK. The Prime Minister has a lot riding on delivering this, post election. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Baroness Morgan said that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is well placed to support this mission, pointing to its work on delivering broadband across the country and its role in regulating digital markets. On this latter point, she said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">But if we are to truly spread the benefits of digital we also need competitive digital markets. So that companies with new services to offer can compete fairly…</p>
<p dir="ltr">And so that consumers get better products and content, cheaper prices and greater choice and transparency.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And alongside this, we need a focus on digital skills, which are an incredible engine of social mobility.</p>
<p dir="ltr">They are now as important to employability and participation in modern Britain as English and maths.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Finally, Morgan also said that diversity in tech is an important agenda for the government, stating that if groups are underrepresented in the tech sector, not only does it rob them of opportunity, but also robs the industry of “the diversity of thought needed”. </p>
<h2>Principle 3 - Pro-innovation regulation</h2>
<p dir="ltr">On the government’s third principle, the Secretary of State said that users need to feel empowered to make choices over how technology impacts their lives, that companies need to be held responsible for the implications of their choices, and that governments must act where they need to, promoting good and protecting from harm. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As such, the government wants to drive digital growth through “pro-innovation regulation”. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Baroness Morgan said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">We have an incredible opportunity to lead the world in nimble, proportionate and pro-innovation regulation, giving us a competitive advantage at this important time in our history.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So we are developing a new strategic and joined up approach for regulating and governing digital technologies.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Working with industry and across sectors, so our regulations and our regulators are equipped for the digital age.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">This includes fostering fair, transparent and ethical online advertising; developing the government’s National Data Strategy; and setting out the government’s response to the Cairncross Review into the sustainability of high quality journalism in the digital age. </p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Principle 4 - Protecting the vulnerable and ensuring safety and security</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The government wants to ensure that online spaces are places where “anyone can feel safe and secure”. Baroness Morgan said: </p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">Although I am optimistic about the power of technology, it cannot be denied that its widespread adoption has brought new threats.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If we cannot be confident that digital technologies are safe and secure, then we will lose the trust that is the lifeblood of any digital economy.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And we will discourage the adoption of the new technologies that are vital if we are to truly unleash Britain’s potential.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We can only keep the benefits of the digital economy - the opportunities for commerce, and the fast flow of transactions and ideas - if we can improve trust and confidence in technology, and tackle what erodes it.</p>
</blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">She outlined the government’s Online Harms White Paper, which set out plans for a new statutory duty of care, overseen by an independent regulator, and also pointed to the National Cyber Security Strategy, where £1.9 billion is being invested. </p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Principle 5 - A free and open Internet</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Finally, the government wants to be a global champion of the “multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance”, which a variety of different actors play important roles in how the Internet itself is run. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Baroness Morgan said that the government will “continue to oppose those authoritarian governments that want to bring the management of the Internet under inter-government control”. </p>
</div>
<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image sourced via GOV.UK</em>
</p>
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<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/digital-government/central" hreflang="en">Central</a></li>
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Wed, 15 Jan 2020 14:10:52 +0000Derek du Preez21699 at https://diginomica.comInstitute for Government - Brexit will not be ‘done’ in 2020, time for implementation neededhttps://diginomica.com/institute-government-brexit-will-not-be-done-2020-time-implementation-needed
<span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Institute for Government - Brexit will not be ‘done’ in 2020, time for implementation needed</span>
<span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><a title="View user profile." href="https://diginomica.com/author/ddpreez" class="username">Derek du Preez</a></span>
<span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 01/14/2020 - 04:25</span>
<span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_46 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://diginomica.com/institute-government-brexit-will-not-be-done-2020-time-implementation-needed" data-a2a-title="Institute for Government - Brexit will not be ‘done’ in 2020, time for implementation needed"><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit"></a><a class="a2a_button_buffer"></a><a class="a2a_button_flipboard"></a></span>
<dl class="node__summary summary">
<dt class="summary__label">Summary: </dt> <dd class="summary__content">
A new report by think tank Institute for Government states that the hard work really begins after 31st January 2020. <br />
</dd>
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<p dir="ltr">With Boris Johnson securing a large majority in the recent general election and subsequently - and finally - getting the government’s Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament, the UK is officially set to leave the EU on 31st January 2020. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, although it may seem ludicrous to say, given the ongoing Brexit saga over the past three years, the hard work is only just beginning. It highlights that the systems and processes required - including everything from border management to establishing new security protocols - will take years. </p>
<p dir="ltr">That’s the view of influential think tank Institute for Government, <a href="https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/getting-brexit-done-WEB.pdf">which has released a report</a> looking at the biggest tasks facing the government and the key decisions it will have to make during the transition period (ending 31 December 2020). </p>
<p dir="ltr">During this time the government and the EU need to agree on issues much broader in scope, including the economic relationship, security co-operation and issues such as data sharing. </p>
<p dir="ltr">However, negotiations are not the only problem over the months ahead. The government will also need to implement the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Northern Ireland Protocol (which prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland), as well as pass new legislation, establish new government functions and policies, and establish the responsibilities of new and existing public bodies.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he will not be extending the 11 month transition period, placing additional pressure on the situation. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The report states:</p>
<blockquote><p dir="ltr">The task of adjusting to life outside the EU will stretch well beyond December 2020. The government will need to decide whether it is prepared to end the transition if these jobs are only partially complete, or whether it is willing to look for other ways to find more time.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Key conclusions</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The Institute for Government clearly lays out the key challenges facing the government over the coming months and years. These include: </p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>The UK government needs to set up structures to manage trade-offs during future negotiations</b> - The Prime Minister needs to ensure he has structures in place across government and devolved administrations to be able to draw on expertise to make political decisions during the upcoming negotiations. </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>Limited time</b> - The 11 month transition period puts the government under pressure. This means that it will probably only be possible to cover a narrow range of issues, with both sides ending up prioritising a largely goods-only free trade agreement. The IfG believes that any negotiations on services is likely to be postponed until after December 2020. </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>No agreement on a future relationship is very possible</b> - The report states that it is still possible that the UK and the EU will not be able to reach agreement on their future relationship by the end of December 2020. And that for businesses across the UK, no deal on the future relationship would be almost identical to the result if the UK left without a deal prior to the Withdrawal Agreement being agreed. </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>Implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol by December 2020 almost impossible</b> - This could result in the UK being taken to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and cause practical and political disruption in Northern Ireland. The IfG notes that the Protocol involves complex customs arrangements and regulatory and customs checks - but key details are yet to be decided. The deal also doesn’t have the backing of any Northern Irish political party and it looks almost impossible to complete the practical changes, for government and business, by the end of the year. </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>Getting operationally ready for Brexit at end of transition period is biggest job yet</b> - The UK could face major disruption if the government sticks to its red line of not extending the transition period. The report states that at the end of December 2020, this is when things really change as a result of Brexit - at the border, across the economy and in policy areas such as immigration. By March, there is expected to be almost 30,000 civil servants working on Brexit. If the UK and the EU do not secure more time to allow for the implementation of a deal, it could result in disruption. </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>British business does not have enough time to prepare for life outside the EU by December 2020</b> - While negotiations are ongoing, businesses will not know what the final relationship will be. Many businesses have said they would need a year to prepare once the details of the deal are clear, and traditional trade agreements often see changes phased in over two or three years. The IfG argues that the kinds of changes businesses will face as a result of Brexit are likely to be much bigger in scale but with possibly just weeks of knowing details. The impact could range from tariffs, to paperwork and changing the terms of how they operate. </p>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b>Brexit will not be ‘done’ in 2020</b> - The report states that Brexit will continue to dominate government for years to come. For Whitehall it will continue to be the biggest and most challenging task faced by a government in decades. The IfG notes that whilst the UK may be leaving EU institutions at the end of January, many of the biggest tasks still lie ahead - agreeing the future relationship with the EU, practical changes, policy questions, and understanding how the UK’s union and internal market will operate outside an EU framework. </p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr">My take</h2>
<p>If you thought the last three years were draining, it seems that we’ve got a lot more of it to come...</p>
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<p class="field field--name-field-image-credit field--type-string field--label-inline">
<em>Image credit - Image sourced via Pixabay</em>
</p>
<div class="field field--name-field-category node__categories categories">
<span class="categories__label">Read more on: </span> <ul class="categories__list">
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/regulation" hreflang="en">Regulation</a></li>
<li class="categories__item"><a href="https://diginomica.com/government/category/digital-government/central" hreflang="en">Central</a></li>
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Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:25:32 +0000Derek du Preez21692 at https://diginomica.com